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What makes you happy? Do that.

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It’s easy to make excuses during busy times,  but if exercise makes you feel good and is part of your self care then do not neglect it! Exercise should not have to be a chore, and if it is, then you need to keep searching for the activity that is right for you. I was an athlete from the time I was little through most of high school, but when I came to college it took me about a year to find an activity that I could stick with and truly enjoy.

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 I take thirty to forty minutes to do Blogilates, whether before or after my classes for the day. I make it a part of my schedule that is just as important as attending class or brushing my teeth. I feel healthy and it centers me. I feel strong and centered, which enhances every aspect of my life. Taking the time to turn my mind off and focus on the physical feeling of challenging my body is refreshing and is the ultimate form of self-care, at least for me it is.  Self-care isn’t selfish; find what brings you that feeling and prioritize it. Love yourself. I feel like we often glorify suffering and being overly busy and stressed, but why? Is it helpful? No. Does it make us happy? Definitely not. Be a rebel–take some time for you.

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Strengths, Self Love, and a Giveaway

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I am majoring in Psychology and Human Health and have become completely enamored with the field of Positive Psychology. Positive Psychology is not about mental illness, but instead focuses on positive mental health and improving wellbeing. I have been lucky enough to take classes on the topic and learn about simple lifestyle choices that lead to happier, and often healthier, lives. The quote on my Yogi Tea the other day was a reminder of a key focus of Positive Psych: focus on your strengths. Our strengths are a mixture of natural talent and hard work (I would argue mostly hard work and perseverance!), but utilizing them and letting our strengths shine is a wonderful way to maximize our abilities and feel successful. It is easy to focus on where we are lacking or areas where we struggle, but if we focus on our strengths and how to use them to achieve our goals we can maintain a positive mindset.

In no way do I believe that we should not strive to improve and challenge ourselves–that is a huge piece of happiness and growth! Striving for improvement is crucial to success, but it is important to maintain appreciation for your strengths throughout the process. What are your strengths? How have you used them today?

On a less serious note, the NuNaturals giveaway has been extended to December 31! Enter here for your chance to win:

NuNaturals Stevia Giveaway!
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Holiday Travels: Tips and Tricks

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Traveling for the holidays is hard. It’s mass chaos everywhere; people are distracted, highways are packed, and airports are bustling! There are a few things I always do before traveling to minimize stress and anxiety, whether traveling by car or plane.

      1. I tend to randomly think of things I need to do before I leave or items I need to pack, often in the middle of the night or during class or work. I highly recommend taking 1 minute and writing it down on a piece of paper or make a note on your phone. Then right before you head out the door for your trip, go through the list and make sure you did it all!
      2. SNACKS! Nothing is worse than being stuck in the airport and hungry. Overpriced snacks or unhealthy snacks are both awful options (in my opinion…I am a cheap college student here 🙂 so I always make sure to pack some fruit, veggies, and of course a few questbars.

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3. Stay hydrated! It is tempting to drink less so you don’t have to stop on a drive or get up during a flight, but staying hydrated keeps you feeling good the whole day! Planes dehydrate your skin (why your lips and face feel dry post-flight) and drinking plenty of water can keep your skin and body feeling good.

 

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4. Treat travel time as “me-time.” Bring along a book you’ve been dying to read, a new CD, or a podcast you enjoy. Jam out, learn, or even sleep!

5. Pack everything the night before…except toiletries! Pack them as you use them in the morning–that way you remember everything you use on a daily basis.

Safe travels this holiday season!

Jem Raw Organics and Under-Appreciated Spices

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Words..I have no words..I officially declare cardamom the most under-appreciated spice in my spice cabinet. Jem Raw Organics was kind enough to send me a few jars of their decadent, raw nut butters. You can seriously taste the quality; they are all silky smooth! I tried the Hazelnut Raw Cacao, Cinnamon Red Maca, Cashew Cardamom, and Superberry Maqui Camu. Their products are all gluten free and vegan and suit nearly every dietary restriction, other than nut-free (obviously).

I have been eating it by the spoonful…

On flax seed rice cakes….

With fresh fruit…

You name it! I definitely forgot how delicious cardamom was. These nut butters are delicious and the flavors stand out on their own–free of additives. I am planning some recipes with these guys and can’t wait to play with them more and let their flavors shine!

What spices do you think are the most under-appreciated?

Simple Girl, Simple Ingredients and BBQ Cauliflower

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I received a few Simple Girl products to review and I have been going through both bottles like crazy! This brand uses stevia instead of artificial sweeteners and donates to charitable organizations; how much more amazing can they get? As a small business, they really cater to the customer and my package came specially wrapped. They make dressings, sauce, and seasonings. I love the citrus ginger dressing on salads–it tastes fresh and has the perfect hint of lemon-y sweetness.

I have mainly been using the BBQ sauce for dipping, but it also makes a great dressing! Do not expect a sweet BBQ sauce when you order the Carolina Style sauce; it is on the spicy side–exactly how I like it 😉

BBQ sauce is literally going on everything. Roasted cabbage wedge all dolled up with some sauce!

Without further ado, here is the recipe for BBQ Cauliflower!

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees F.

Wash and cut up your head of fresh cauliflower (I used yellow cauliflower)

Spray baking sheet with coconut oil, or oil of choice

Lay cauliflower evenly on pan and toss with salt and pepper

Bake for about 20 minutes or until the florets begin to brown

After the cauliflower has cooled, place the florets in a bowl and toss with 3-4tbsp of Simple Girl Carolina Style BBQ sauce (or any BBQ sauce you have on hand)

Serve and enjoy!

If you want to buy some (and why wouldn’t you..?) here’s their site: http://www.simplegirl.com/

 

 

Feeling Powerful…

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Powerful Yogurt is amazing! I’m loving that their bars have a probiotic yogurt coating; I am a die-hard Questbar fan, but it is nice to have a change of pace every once in a while. I like the yogurt creme bar best–it literally tastes like sugar cookies. There is a rich, buttery vanilla flavor and the bar is super smooth.

I’ve been using their protein shakes as coffee creamer, as well. It is SUPER good and comes in both chocolate, vanilla maple, and açai, although I haven’t tried açai yet! They are delicious on their own, as well. Once again, I am a huge fan of the inclusion of probiotics. They keep the ingredients list short and the shakes are shelf-stable, which is perfect for tossing in my backpack for a long day at school.

I cannot wait to try their yogurt; has anyone tried them? Favorite flavors??